About 60-65 students participated in football tryouts Wednesday at Holuba Hall, though mining for talent will take time.

Head coach Bill O'Brien said he was impressed with the numbers and saw some potential players in the group. Learning how they will fit with team is the next step.

"There were some guys in the group we definitely think can help us in the future and right now," O'Brien said on his weekly radio show Thursday. "We'll have to see how it goes when we tie the loose ends together and bring the guys on the football team."

Potential players will need NCAA clearance and an academic schedule that fits the team's practice schedule. If their schedules don't coincide, the players could join the team next spring.

Penn State has held in-season tryouts for years, normally finding players who participate on the scout teams. The tryouts could become more important, and beneficial, as Penn State begins playing with reduced scholarship numbers.

Elsewhere on the radio show:

O'Brien said that, as Paul Jones continues his transition from quarterback to tight end, don't expect to see him in any Wildcat formations.

"You won’t get much Wildcat from me," O'Brien said. "I'm not a big believer in the Wildcat."

The coach also isn't a "big believer" in playing backup quarterbacks. O'Brien said he has no plans to play freshman Steven Bench 'just to play." Last week, Matt McGloin played the entire game, despite Penn State holding a 34-7 fourth-quarter lead.

"As a backup quarterback," O'Brien said, "that's what you are."

And O'Brien once again said he would go for 4th-and-goal at the Navy 8-yard line instead of having Sam Ficken attempt a 25-yard field goal. The play, O'Brien said, was scripted for that situation as early as Friday night. And he'll do it again in the future.

"We're going to continue to push the envelop and be aggressive as long as I’m the head coach here," O'Brien said.